Interesting Middlesbrough transfer dynamic ahead of January with a warning from last year

Talking points that emerged after Middlesbrough’s victory over QPR

As we draw ever closer to the opening of the January transfer window, Middlesbrough’s victory over QPR, and indeed their three prior victories under new boss Kim Hellberg, highlighted the excellent place their squad is in.

Having slowly built to this stage over the course of the last few transfer windows, this summer’s felt like the first time for a long while that Boro truly had their squad at a solid level in terms of quality, quantity and balance.

That’s told as well, with Boro sitting second in the Championship, now seven points clear of third-placed Preston North End, and nine of seventh-placed Stoke City.

Options have improved further still under Hellberg, with the Swede’s willingness to offer players fresh opportunities. With that, both Alex Bangura and Alex Gilbert have established themselves when just a few weeks ago they’d have been on the list of players vulnerable to the chop in January.

With the duo playing so much recently, after so long without football prior to that, Hellberg found his squad depth valuable as he offered both a rest in the QPR, with no disruption felt.

With Gilbert in particular, you saw the benefits of summer recruitment decisions that have left Boro’s midfield feeling as strong as it has for a long time.

In taking Gilbert out, Hellberg was able to restore Alan Browne to the side. And to the surprise of absolutely no one, the Sunderland loanee stepped in seamlessly. Last season, that would have been Dan Barlaser and the change would have almost certainly have been felt.

To think too, Boro still have Aidan Morris – only recently lauded as one of the best midfielders in the Championship – to return from injury. There’s Abdoulaye Kante, too, who is back in training but still getting back up to speed after his recent hernia op.

You could have similar arguments all over the pitch for Boro. There feels like genuine quality options and interesting selection decisions throughout the pitch.

The interesting dynamic that creates for January

This comes, of course, with the backdrop of the January transfer window being just around the corner.

A chance for Boro to strengthen their squad should they see fit, a lot of next month’s business will likely depend on this week’s planned meetings, and Hellberg’s true early impressions of each of his players.

But with the above in mind, and with improving defensive options thanks to both injury returns and Adilson Malanda and potentially Lukas Engel, Boro head into the January transfer window in a strong position.

While any potential offers for star players could change things if Boro are put into a position where they feel they have to sell, they’re otherwise in a position where, realistically, they only really need to do any business if they’re certain it improves them.

Most clubs, and indeed Boro in recent years, use the January window to plug gaps. But particularly with the arrival of Malanda, there doesn’t feel like there are any obvious ones for Boro.

We already know they’re going to have to find space in their squad for Malanda, with their registration list currently at its maximum. That means at least one player has to go. And that will become two, if Engel takes his opportunity and is added.

Beyond that, any further signings would also have to see another player removed from the list. It makes for a really interesting dynamic for Boro heading into the window. It’s true players can be removed without leaving the club. But Boro won’t want to keep a player who is being paid, but can’t play.

While Boro have proven often that they’re opportunistic recruiters who will strike when the iron’s hot on long-term targets, sometimes, and particularly in the mid-season window, too much change can be disruptive. That was the case 12 months ago.

Of course, most disruptive of all last January was effectively losing two key players (Ben Doak didn’t leave but suffered an injury that ended his season). Such is the toughness of the January window, Boro didn’t adequately replace either.

In that regard, the hope will be that, even if offers for key players do come, said players are more interested in staying on Teesside and seeing the promotion mission out. Boro chiefs are keen to keep their key men next month given the strength of their current position.

But how much incoming business they then do, and as a result of that, which players they look to offload, is going to be a very interesting dynamic.